A community group has expressed concern about the management of matchday parking facilities at a north Liverpool park.
Alt Valley Community Trust (AVCT) began managing Walton Leisure Centre in 2013 after the council granted them a 30 year lease.
AVCT then began providing match day parking for fans attending games at nearby Goodison Park.
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However the Friends of Walton Park began to express concern about the way in which the parking arrangements were managed.
The community group complained about cars that were parked on the grass and flowerbeds.
In response to this Liverpool Council introduced bollards to stop this from happening.
The community group recently contacted the ECHO and accused AVCT of not putting the money they have made from the matchday parking back into the park.
The friends group have claimed AVCT have taken around £20,000 per year in cash from the parking facility.
In response, AVCT said income from parking charges had always contributed towards the running costs of Walton Sports Centre.
Last week the ECHO revealed how Liverpool council paid £2,231,065.00 to AVCT from 2013 to 2020. The largest single payment was for over £600,000 in 2018. The trust says the money was used to pay for community-based activities and services.
A spokesman for the Friends of Walton Park said: "Alt Valley Trust run the sports centre in the park and have a gentleman's agreement with Liverpool City Council to manage the car park on match days.
"They have run this for many years making thousands of pounds each year yet have never given any money to the park for its upkeep nor the damage caused during match days when parking attendants have allowed cars to park on the grass, on community rose beds and in-front of gates and entrances making it dangerous for the park visitors.
"We have contacted Phil Knibb (chief executive of AVCT) and the centre staff many times over the years to solve the parking problems but it sadly carried on.
"Then in 2017 the city council paid for bollards to be fitted to stop the damage to the park.
"We feel is should have been the responsibility of Alt Valley to install the bollards because they are taking parking money.
"We feel that this money should be reinvested in the park.
"Funding for parks is not mandatory and this cash could have been used to benefit the community. We have asked Liverpool City council to investigate this."
A spokesperson for AVCT said: "Walton Sports Centre was incurring significant losses and was earmarked for closure by the City Council as part of the 2013/ 14 budget proposals.
"Following a competitive application process the centre management was transferred to AVCT on a thirty year peppercorn rent arrangement.
"Since 2013 AVCT has successfully managed and developed the centre. We have invested heavily and refurbished the building so Walton Sports Centre is now a thriving, essential community resource.
"AVCT have continued to follow the City Council’s car parking arrangements. Income from parking charges has always contributed towards the centre’s running costs.
"AVCT responded to complaints regarding parking and took measures to address the problem by reducing parking capacity. Liverpool City Council erected bollards to assist with these improvement plans."
A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: “The lease for Walton Sports Centre was granted in 2013. We have been made aware of the complaints relating to the damage to the park and the matter is being looked into.”
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